Gutter cleaner for dairy barns



Feb. 16, 1960 A. GARAND ET AL CUTTER CLEANER FOR DAIRY BARNS Invmfom'6Z2 raizdfr zzizla 60% f4? .B W Mflorhdg Filed July 9, 1957 UnitedStates Patent GUTIER CLEANER FOR DAIRY 'BARNS Albert Garand,Victoriaville, Quebec, and Henri Labont, Ste.-Sophie, Quebec, CanadaApplication July 9, 1957, Serial No. 670,818

1 Claim. (Cl. 198-224) This invention relates to farm apparatus and morepar-.

cleaner bearing the above objects in mind which is of simpleconstruction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive tomanufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of apparatus made in accordancewith the present invention in operative use;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken along line33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a chain forming a part ofthe present invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the drag blades forming a partof the present invention;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of part of the apparatus showing how ahorizontal corner can be negotiated;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showin certainparts of the structure shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a link adapter forming another part ofthe present invention.

Referringnow more in detail to the drawing, a gutter cleaning devicemade in accordance with the present invention is shown in operativeassociation with a plurality of stalls 1 arranged side by side within astable 2 that is provided with an alley 3 and longitudinal gutter 4. Anupwardly inclined outside extension 5 forms a continuation of gutter 4so as to provide communication with the exterior of the stable. Asupport leg 6 maintains the outer end of the extension 5 in the raisedposition.

A chain composed of a plurality of pairs of links 7 pivotally connectedat each end to each next adjacent link forms a support for a pluralityof longitudinally spaced apart drag blades 9, each one of which isprovided with a front face 9', an end face 10, an angular side face 10and an angularly related rib 11 projecting from side face 10 and havinga transversely extending hole 12 through which certain ones of the pivotpins 8 of the chain assembly extend. As is more clearly shown in Figure7, the blades 9 are secured to the pins 8 by means of washers 13 andcotter pins 14 With the links of the apparatus arranged in the flatposition and connected by end pins 8, as shown at the left side ofFigure 4, the chain may be used to turn a horizontal corner 18 formed inthe gutter as shown in Figure 6. However, by using an adapter squarelink 20, other chain links 7 may be placed in the edge position showntoward the right side of Figure 4, in 'which position pivot pins 15 aresecured intermediate the midsections of each pair of such links so as torotatably support the drag blade 9 which is secured thereon by means ofwashers 16 and cotter pins 17. With this arrangement, the chain may bedirected a vertical corner, such as that shown in Figure 2 by means ofan idler pulley 19. With reference to Figure 8, the adapter link 20 isshown to include a transverse bore 21 at each end, each of which extendsin a perpendicularly related direction relative to the other, so thatthis change in the pivotal axis of each link may be effected. The linksare preferably placed in the flat position in order to reduce thefilling of the space therebetween with manure during operation. However,the position may be changed for turning corners, as may be required,only a few links being needed adjacent to each corner section.

The opposite ends of the chain are connected by means of a flexiblecable 22 that is trained about various corner pulleys 23, 24, 26 andceiling pulleys 27 carried upon the ceiling 25 of the barn.Reciprocating longitudinal movement of the chain is obtained by aconnecting rod 28 that is joined at one end to one of the pins 8 of thechain and at the other end to an endless chain 29 which is driven by amotor 30, the chain being drawn in one direction when the connecting rod28 is drawn by the upper course of the drive chain, and being driven inthe reverse direction when driven by the lower course thereof. When thechain is being moved in the direction toward the exterior manure pile 50outside of the stable, the blades 9 are disposed substantiallytransversely of the gutter in order to scrape the bottom of the gutterand move the manure further along therein. When the chain isreciprooated in the opposite direction, the frictional engagement of theblades 9 with the bottom of the gutter are operative to rotate theblades to the dotted line position shown in the drawing, wherein theyare slightly inclined to the longitudinal axis of the gutter, whichmovement is limited by the engagement of the face 10 with the adjacentlink. Thus, by continuously reciprocating the chain, the drag blades 9are operative to draw all of the manure outwardly to the central pile5t).

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What we claim as new and desire to protect by Letter-s Patent of theUnited States is:

A gutter cleaner for dairy barns comprising, in combination, a flexiblechain, means pulling said chain within a dairy barn gutter forreciprocating longitudinal movement, said chain being constituted bypivotally interconnected links, the pivotal axis of certain ones of saidlinks being at right angles to the pivotal axis of the others of saidlinks, means guiding the parts of said chain constituted by said certainones of said links around horizontal corners, additional means guidingthe parts of said chain constituted by the others of said links aroundvertical corners, vertical pivot pins carried by and upstanding fromsaid links at spaced intervals along said chain, and elongated dragblades, each having an end face, an inclined side face adjacent said endface and an apertured rib projecting from said inclined side face andpivotally receiving one of said pivot pins for pivotal movement of saidblade in relation to said chain between an operative position atsubstantially right angle to the adjacent links with said end faceabutting against said adjacent Patented Feb. 16, 1960.

links, and an inoperative position slightly inclined withReferencesCited in the file of this patent respect to said adjacentlinks and With said inclined side UNITED STATES PATENTS face abuttingsaid adjacent links, alternating movement of 2,603,344 Cordis y 1952said chain in. opposite direction ea'usingpivotal movement of said dragblades between said two positions thereof; 5 2,773,584 Densmore 19562,785,790 Bruecker Mar. 19, 1957

